'And the Word became flesh and lived among us.'

The Census at Bethlehem, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1566

Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels [Web Gallery of Art]

In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child (Luke 2: 1-5, NRSVACE).

Adoration of the Shepherds, Rembrandt, 1646

National Gallery, London [Web Gallery of Art]

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.’ So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger (Luke 2:15-16, NRSVACE).

At the Mass during the Day

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. (John testified to him and cried out, ‘This was he of whom I said, “He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.”’) From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known (John 1:1-18).

Adoration of the Shepherds, Murillo, 1646-50

The Hermitage, St Petersburg [Web Gallery of Art]

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it (John 1:5).

Christmas in the Trenches 1914

 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host,praising God and saying,

 ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace among those whom he favours!’ (Luke 2: 13-14).

The song above was written by John McCutcheon.

At the Mass during the Day

Entrance Antiphon     Antiphona ad introitum Cf. Isaiah 9:5

Puer natus est nobis, et filius datus est nobis, 

A Child is born for us, and a son is given to us;

cujus imperium super humerum ejus,

his sceptre of power rests upon his shoulder, 

et vocabitur nomen ejus, magni consilii Angelus.

and his name will be called Messenger of great counsel.

Ps 97 [98]: 1. Cantate Domino canticum novum quia mirabilia fecit.

O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous things.

Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, 

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, in saecula saeculorum. Amen.

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

Puer natus est nobis, et filius datus est nobis, 

A Child is born for us, and a son is given to us;

cujus imperium super humerum ejus,

his sceptre of power rests upon his shoulder, 

et vocabitur nomen ejus, magni consilii Angelus.

and his name will be called Messenger of great counsel

The shorter version, in bold, is used in the Ordinary Form of the Mass, the longer in the Extraordinary Form.

Scripture texts are from the New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Catholic Edition.

The arrangement of Adeste Fideles is by English composer Sir David Willcocks who will turn 95 on 30 December.

Nollaig Shona!
Merry Christmas!
Malipayon nga Pascua!

¡Feliz Navidad!